Support for cupola buckets



jun@ 7, 1932. c. A. HARDY SUPPORT FOR CUPOLA UBUCKETS Filed May 26, 19282 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECLEMENT A. HARDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WHITINGCORPORATION,OF I l HARVEY, ILLINOIS,V A CORPORATION' OF ILLINOIS SUPPORT FOR CUPOLABUCKETS Application mea May 26, 1928. serial No. 280,743. i

My invention relates to support-s for cupola buckets.

Une of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, practicaland advantageous support in a cupola for a charging bucket to supportthe bucket whiledischarging.

Another object lof the invention is to provide a cupola bucket supportwhich will permit the bucket to be introduced into the cupola andunloaded by the use of a suitable charging mechanism. y

Another object of the invention is to make possible the introduction andunloading' of the bucket in the cupola by means of a single supportingcable without the use of any unlocking or unlatching arrangements. Y

Another object or" the invention is tov secure simplicity ofcon-struction and reduce the cost of manufacture and installation.

In the accompany drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in'vertical section of aportion of a cupola and a cupola bucket and bucket supe port involvingmy invention, the bucket being shown in an open condition;

;F ig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with the bucket shown in a closedcondition;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3 3 in Fig, 1 but with thebucket removed;

Figs. t and 5 are, respectively, a cross section and the verticalelevation of a modified form of cupola support and a portion of thecupola;

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of a further modiiication; and i Fig. 8is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4E of a urther modification. e

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, I show a cupola 1 havinga portion 2 provided with aside opening 3 which may be used for theintroduction and withdrawal of the cupola bucket and carrying orcharging device, and also having a lowerportlon 3 containing the cupolacharge 4, of coke, iron and As an illustration of a charging mechanism,I show the end portion of a beam 5 which is understood to be carried andmoved by suitablemechanism such, for eXample,as

is well kpownin the art.

The beam 5 is provided with a pulley 6 over which is extended a cable 7the end of which is provided with a hook 8 adapted to engage andsupportV the attaching member of a cupola bucket.

'As an illustration of a cupola bucket I show a bucket 9 which may be ofsubstantially cylindric shape and which is provided with a conica-lseparable bottom 10. This bottom 110 is provided with a flange 11adapted to t against the lower edge of the bucket 9 so that inv itsclosed condition the flange 11 will t against the underside' or"` thebucket body proper, as shown in Fig. 2. l/Vhile in its open conditionthe bottom 10 will be lowered or separated from the body of the bucketproper 9, as shown in F ig. 1`.

rIhe bucket lbottom 10 is provided with an upwardly extending member orelement preferably in the form of a rod or beam 12 whose upper end maybe provided with a ring 13 adapted to engage the hook 8 at the end ofvchain 7.` Thus the bucket may be held in suspension ina closedcondition, vas shown in Fig. 2, or raised or lowered, or moved m anydesired direction in that condition by means of the cable 7 having itshook 8 engaged with the ring 13.

I further show a suppe-rt for the bucket which will permit the bucket tobe introduced into the cupola but which will engage the bucket bodyportion proper and hold it in position while atv thesame time permittingthe bottom of the bucket to be lowered so as to open the bucket anddischarge its contents. This bucket support could have various diiierentforms and constructions. In

this application I show four dierent forms' or constructions, but itwill be understood that others couldl be devised within the spirit ofthe invention. A

OneV of the forms shown is illustrated in Figs. l, 2-and 3. Thisycomprises a supporting member 14 which may conveniently be in the formof a wishebone, having two side limbs or members 15, l5 connected to oneanother and to a third' member 16. The side members l5 are preferablyprovided with slightly inclined end portions 17 and these are fitted insockets or holders 18 at the oppoy small or supplemental opening pola,resting on the ledge or shoulder at the lowered Aso that its flange 21will Hand causesite sides of the cupola mouth or opening 3,'

so that the bucket may be moved bodily into the cupola through theopening 3 and between the'side members 15. The other mem,- ber 16 is inthe rear or back of the cupola, opposite `the mouth 3V andpasses througha 18 in the cubottom of said opening, as shown in 1. The member 16 ispreferably provided with a downwardly extending'shoulder 19 to engagethe back of the cupola,`ora Vplate 20 thereon, so as to prevent forwardor outward movement of the member 14. Aside from this engagement ofshoulders 19 and 2O the member 14 is preferably loose in the cupola, sothat if desired it may bebodily removed i from time to time for cleaningor renewal c purposes or replacement@ The members 15 are at suchdistance apart as to permitthe bucket body 9 to pass readily betweenthem so that the bucket may be moved readily into proper position in thecupola.

But the upper portion of bucket `body 9 Vis provided with anoutwardlyprojecting memberbr elementA such as the flange 21, vwhich is adapted toengage members 15 when the bucket is lowered. Thus the bucket may bemoved into the'cupola by means of the charging mechanism, the bucketbeing in a closed condition, as shown in Fig. 2, andfcontaining asuitable charge such, for example, as coke or iron, and then the bucketmay be engage the side members 15 of the support 14v and so that furtherlowering by the charging mechanism will permit the bottom 10 onlytodescend, thereby discharging the contents of the bucket into thecupola, as desired. After ,hanismV may be operated so as to lirst actupon the cable 7 the bottom 10 to rise andclose the bucket and then thebeam 5 will be moved so as to move the bucket away from the support 14and out of the cupola.. y

In the arrangement showninFigs. 4 and 5, the support 142t is providedwith side members 23, 23 substantially parallel with one another Y andprovided with outwardly 'in clined ends 24 similarly to the ends of thesupport14 and these side members 23 are preferably extended back throughopenings 25,r 25 in the cupola and connected with one another by astraight cross member'26. The operation of the bucket in connection withthis support 14a is substantially the same as it is in connectionwiththe support 14. v

. Ink the arrangement shown inFigs. 6 and 7 a support 14b is arrangedwithin the cupola and provided with a plurality of more or less radiallyextending members 28, 28 whose inner ends are adapted to engage theholding shoulder or projection, suchV as flange 21 on the bucket bodyand thereby permit the opdischarg'e the charging mec eration of thedevice, as previously described.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 comprises side members 23a, which ymaybe independent of one another and may be supportedV at their oppositeends in supports 18 on the cupola walls. By this construction a cupolahaving a rear or back mouth or opening, as well as a front mouth oropening, maybe provided with a bucket support as well as cupolasprovided with front openings only.V

Thus it will be seenthat the mechanism is simple, practical andadvantageous and that the bucket may be readily introduced into thecupola and unloaded and Vthen removed in an empty condition in aI Veryquick and expeditious manner and that this may complished simply by thesingle bucket carrying cable or element 7 of the charging mechanism,there being no latching or locking arrangements requiring a separate*and addi.- tional cable or elementsfor operation. will also be seenthat the entire mechanism is inexpensive and may be easily and cheaplymanufactured and installed. y

It will be. understood that changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

, lVhat I claim is 1. A support for a cupola bucket having sidesupporting members with diverging portions adapted to permit the readyentrance between them of the body of the bucket Vand also adapted toengage horizontal side projecting or shoulder portions on the bucketbody for supporting said body.

side supporting portions adapted to engage shoulder portions on thebucket body and also having a diverging front opening to permit the freemovementof the bucket body into the space between said side supportingportions. 3. A support for a cupola bucket having side members spacedapart to permit the movement of the bucket body between them and adaptedto engage shoulder portions on the bucketbody, and a cross connectionbetween said side members to serve as a stopl'for limiting the inwardmovement of the bucket. 4. The combination with a cupola, of a bucketsupport comprising side members on the opposite sides of the cupolaopening for engaging and supporting the bucket body, rand a rear memberfor limiting the inward movement ofthe bucket. `5. The combination witha cupola. bucket, of a support therefor, said support having a portionthereof arranged Vto'encompass the be ac- 2. A support for a cupolabucket having encompassing portion arranged to rest on and besupportedby a cupola wall, the said bucket LJ having a projectionextending therefrom arranged to engage the encompassing portion of thesaid support for sustaining the said bucket.

7. The combination With acupola bucket, of a support therefor, saidsupport having a portion thereof arranged to encompass the bucket andsupport same and other portions of the said support arranged to lead thebucket for centering same With respect to the said encompassing portionof the said support.

8. The combination with a cupola bucket, of a support therefor, saidsupport having a portion thereof arranged to encompass the bucket andother portions extending from the encompassing portion arranged to reston and be supported by a cupola Wall, said other extending portionshaving means for holding the support assembly in position.

9. The combination With acupola and a cupola bucket, of a supporttherefor, said support having a portion thereof arranged to encompassthe bucket and other portions extending from the encompassing portionarranged to rest on and be supported by a cupola Wall, said otherextending portions having means for holding the support assembly inposition, said means including a hooklike projection for engaging theWall of the cupola.

10. In combination, a cupola, a cupolabucket-support therein,projections extending from the said support for engaging the cupolaWall, openingsin the cupola Wall for receiving said projections of saidsupport, and means on the said projections for retaining the saidsupport in position in said cupola.

11. The combination With a cupolal and a cupola bucket of a supporthaving guiding and supporting portions arranged for receiving andcentering the said bucket upon its entrance to the cupola, and shoulderportions on the bucket extending from the sides thereof for engaging thesaid support after the placement of the said bucket in the said support.

12. A support for a cupola bucket, said support having guiding andsupporting portions, said guiding portions being outspread to receive abucket therebetween; horizontal projecting portions on the sides of thebucket to engage the supporting portions of said support.

13. A cupola bucket support comprising side members adapted to engageand support a cupola bucket and provided With portions adapted to fitremovably in the Walls of a cupola so as to permit the support as a unitto be inserted into and removed from the cupola.

14. A cupola bucket support comprising side members for engaging andsupporting a cupola bucket, said side members being spaced apart at oneend to permit the entrance of the bucket and being connected together atthe other end to hold them together as a unitary structure,the spacedapart ends being adapted to rest removablyv upon shoulders on the cupolaWall and the other end of the support being also removably mounted onsaid Wall.

l5. A Vcupola bucket support comprising a portion adapted to engage andbe supported by the cupola Wall and having inwardly eX- tending membersadapted to engage and support the cupola bucket.

16. A cupola bucket support comprising a portion adapted toengage andbesupported by the cupola Wall and having inwardly ex` tending prongsadapted to engage and suppo-rt the cupola bucket.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of April,A. D. 1928.

CLEMENT A. HARDY.

